News / Blog - Motorsport News

We all know that time flies. Certainly as I get older whole decades seem to pass with the blink of an eyelid!

And it is the passage of time and the continued progress with technology that has made me think that I needed a new project.

The Internet has become the dominant resource for a photographer to present his work to interested people. Tagged on the back of that is the opportunity to sell a few pics. Even a photographer needs to eat and buy beer!

So I'm announcing here that this website won't be where my new work is uploaded in the future. I have a new website under development... more on that later.

But the good news is all the Photos, Blogs and Information that features here will remain just as it is. I have built this massive record of Guernsey life... Sports, Motorsports, Gigs, Bands and Social Life and I'm keen for it to still be available. This 'old' website is now thirteen years old and has accrued nearly 50 MILLION picture views!

However with the improvement of mobile phone screens, faster download speeds and expectations of how photos display I will be uploading all new work to a new website. It still carries a title that regulars will be familiar with... TALLPICTURES.com

This is a major project for me as I hope to carry some of the old Galleries across too, but that all depends on time. Yes time gets a mention again!

I wonder what the next blink of the eye brings?

TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW WEBSITE HERE:
CLICK TO VIEW THE NEW TALLPICTURES WEBSITE

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club returned to the popular Reservoir Speed Event with a full entry after having a break in 2022.

This event offers something different for the racers with high speeds and tricky, technical corners and attracts Cars, Bikes and Karts.

I think it is quite amazing how each split of the program and the return to pits is achieved so quickly when you see how tight the space is in the pit area.

It proves what can be done when the competitors do their bit and listen to the briefing, oh, and want as much track-time as possible!

Take a look at these galleries to see all the action....
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 GK&MC RESERVOIR SPEED EVENT

Just a quick note and a link to the latest uploads.

I've added a new Gallery featuring Round 6 of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Sand Racing Championship.

This race meeting was back on the normal track position as the tides had returned the beach to its normal levels. Unlike most Motorsports that are raced on a track that maintains a reliable surface from one meeting to the next, with beach racing you don't know what you are racing on until the tide recedes.

Sometimes a gale and rough weather will lift and move the sands revealing stones and ruts.

But you can also rely on the tides to make good the damage. So after a previous meeting the sands were perfect for Round 6. My pics of the racing are now online:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 6 OF THE SAND RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

Mike Ogier is a very nice guy but I hope he doesn't make a habit of coming to visit me at the Hillclimbs!

Because at the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Bank Holiday Hillclimb he gave us both a bit of a shock! I was photographing the action at the first corner when Mike came into view... at quite a pace!

Unfortunately for his wallet he couldn't find enough grip and his Anderson 250 Kart under-steered straight towards my position. Definitely not a good idea for Mike as I was protected behind a thick Guernsey Granite and Block wall!

I spoke to Mike after he came to a sudden stop and he said he had to make the choice between the Granite wall and a solid (but not as hard) bank. He chose the bank... a good choice. But he was still left with a cracked front nose cone.

The whole thing was quite dramatic however whilst I kept my finger on the trigger until the moment I retreated behind the wall the sequence of pics really aren't that striking.... at least to you and me.

Maybe they will be for Mike?!!

I was able to photograph plenty of the other racing and three new Galleries are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST GMC&CC HILLCLIMB

Around and around they go.....

If you were to propose a Motorsport speed event that simply involved racing around a football pitch sized narrow, square, tarmac track you might struggle to generate interest amongst motorbike riders.

But if you were to add a couple of technical chicanes, tricky cambers on the corners and a format that only offers a single flying lap to bring all the elements together then it becomes a much more interesting challenge!

The bonus is that a rider gets many chances to get back out on the tarmac.

So what I've just described is the format of the GMC&CC Twisty Sprint at The Track and the latest running of the event was yesterday.

I spoke to quite a few of the competitors and the general response was that the technical event should keep its place in the calendar. Variety is the spice of life... even in Motorsport it seems.

I only had a short time to grab a few pics as there was a Music Festival - and many beers - awaiting my attention! My Twisty Sprint pics are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2023 TWISTY SPRINT

The Guernsey Autocross Club Banger racers always end their season with a special event that is headlined as the 'Fun Meeting'.

That title should be enough for you to imagine the theme! It's all about Bangers, racing, bashing, noise, speed, roll-overs... oh and lots of FUN.

The 2023 edition offered all of the above with the added bonus of SUN!

This encouraged a crowd of hundreds who lined the vantage points and they were thoroughly entertained. Everywhere I looked there were smiles on faces.

This Gallery features some of the action.... enjoy and smile :-)
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 AUTO-X FUN MEETING

What I love about my job is that I am able to capture a fleeting moment of action or drama and preserve it. Not in a bottle but in the form of an image.

The result is always unique and will literally freeze a moment of time.

Many times this 'snapshot' is just that, nothing more. For anyone without an association with the event the pic is probably irrelevant!

But I have grown to realize that for someone with a link to the image the 'record' of the moment can mean something really special.

As time goes by and memories fade it is that captured image of a moment that can help someone recall a special feeling, excitement, emotion or thrill.

When thinking about my work in that way it feels more than just a job... and I know I'm privileged to be able to do this as my work.

.... and after that rather deep and thoughtful comment? I've just added another 148 captured moments in time to the latest Sandracing Gallery!

View them here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST SANDRACING PICS

As the headline says... Motorsport in the sun is great fun!

After the damp start to the 2023 Hillclimb season yesterdays offering was much more like it!

It was dry all day at Le Val des Terres and the sun made a pretty good showing too. So I enjoyed the outing as much as the racers.

The records didn't drop in any number which at first I was a little surprised by but after talking to a couple of the faster drivers I learnt that the new tyres supplied this season (by a new manufacturer) will take a little getting used to.

So I'm sure there is more to come yet, but for now that'll do nicely.

All my pics of the racing are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST GMC&CC HILLCLIMB

There was some pretty spectacular racing on the Vazon beach sands today at the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club meeting.

The bike classes produced some close racing but I think the most impressive moment was during a car race.

Steve Marquis, Andy Rosamond and Jamie Queripel were all abreast as they approached the wet bend. Steve had the benefit of the inside line and he wasn't in the mood to give away the advantage so he threw his Ford Focus into a massive drift maintaining his speed whilst negotiating the bend... and missing the tires marking the corner. Great work.

My pics of the racing are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW RACE 3 OF THE SAND RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club hosted a 2-Day Motocross event including an Inter-Insular competition at the Pleinmont Motocross track on 8th and 9th April 2023.

The racing was close and exciting for the crowd that gathered to enjoy the bright conditions. I reckon we all needed a shower afterwards due to the clouds of dust lifted by the riders!

I've added a huge Gallery of pics featuring loads of the action.... but please remember that they are copyrighted and NOT free to copy.

Maybe you can support my work by purchasing a pic or two? Thanks.

This is a link to the Gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 2-DAY MOTOCROSS MEETING

The 2023 Guernsey Hillclimb season left the startline at the Easter Monday hillclimb organised by the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club at Le Val des Terres.

Frustratingly for competitors there was a wet start to the day and as damp patches remained all day in the esses overall times were affected.

So we all look forward and hope for the perfect track conditions next time. Fingers and spanners crossed!

I still managed to catch loads of the action and a new Gallery is now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GMC&CC EASTER HILLCLIMB ACTION

It was just what you expect from Kart racing... close and competitive right the way to the checkered flag!

I popped down to The Track to photograph some of the action in Round 3 of the GK&MC Championship.

The pics are online here if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 3 OF THE 2023 KART CHAMPIONSHIP

On Saturday the Channel Island Mower Racing Association organized a race meeting in a St Andrews field. I popped along.

I haven't caught up with one of their race meetings for a while. But I was soon reminded what good fun this motorsport provides. It's competitive, fast and noisy... it ticks all the boxes!

And it is a cheap option compared to other classes of Motorsport. Highly recommended!

I also learnt that it is a true International sport with events on the 2023 UK National calendar due to feature racers from around the world.

If you've been looking for an affordable class of motorsport that still gives you a rush and thrill... you've just found it!

Take a look at my Galleries to be convinced!
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST MOWER RACING GALLERY

The 2023 Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club 2-Day Trials event was really well supported this year. Even though, sadly, the French contingent was unable to join us due to Condor Ferries cancelling the sailing!

The French were certainly missed but our Jersey cousins had made the effort to get over... even though they also had disruption with the delivery of their bikes. I believe they might have visited the UK on the way to Guernsey! You really can't make it up!

But, in the end, things fell into place and the resilient Trials bunch were able to get out to play.

They are certainly a 'hard-core' bunch as Day-1 was, from my viewpoint, a pretty miserable affair. Don't misunderstand me, I enjoyed being out on the sections taking pics. It was just that it was so bleak, misty, damp, muddy and tiring.

The toughest sections seemed to be down in the cliff-side valley at Todders. I said 'seemed' as due to the mist all I could see from the top were vague shapes through the mist then the revving of engines as the riders tried to pull themselves out of the valley up the very slippery slopes.

Remarkably most of them could still raise a weary smile at the top. Maybe that was just relief that they would eventually be able to take a nice warm shower... together with a beer or six!

Day two was, in comparison, like chalk and cheese. For this we all headed to the North with the majority of the sections set up around L'Ancresse Common. The weather was dry until near the end and mud and slippery slopes were just a memory.

It was a fitting end to an exhausting and busy weekend... that's just the sort we enjoy most, isn't it!

I've added Galleries for the two days of Trials if you are interested. Click the link to view them:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 2-DAY TRIALS

More from the Motocross track....

With the cliff-top track in excellent condition for racing the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Motocross racers had a fun day at the latest Championship race.

I was there for a couple of hours before leaving to cover the Raiders Rugby and captured some of the action.

This link will take you to the Gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST MOTOCROSS RACING

Firstly, thanks for all the orders of Rally pics. You will now have received all the Digital versions. Standard prints will be in the post tomorrow and Canvases by the weekend.

Having completed the monster sized edit of the 2023 Guernsey Rally pics I've now indulged myself by finding a few minutes to develop a couple of Black & white versions.

My guess is that most photographers of my generation... I'm talking born in the mid fifties! will have a soft spot for the 'purity' of the mono-toned image. Take a quick look at these examples and see if you agree with me?

If you want me to convert one of your favorite pics to B&W just let me know.

You can view all the 2023 Comprop Guernsey Rally pics by clicking on this link:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE 2023 COMPROP RALLY PICS

I'm really pleased to see that the overwhelming majority of comments about the 2023 Comprop Guernsey Rally have been positive.

In fact the behavior of the few protesters has even turned the 'neutrals' into supporters of this amazing event!

Every cloud has a silver lining, eh!

I've just added the last pics to the Galleries which now cover Scrutineering, Friday night and Saturday racing.

Check out the most comprehensive coverage of the 2023 Comprop Guernsey Rally by following this link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE 2023 COMPROP GUERNSEY RALLY

This latest Gallery features just a few pics of the Friday night Torteval Stage of the 2023 Comprop Guernsey Rally. Sadly a tiny minority of people decided to act selfishly to disrupt the running of both of the evening stages.

Their behavior was shocking as they threatened to put lives at risk... including their own. They totally disregarded the fact that all official permissions were in place to run the Rally and the disruption to residents was just for a couple of hours.

I spoke to many people along the Stages and without exception all of them were supportive of the Rally. They had wrapped up warm, had a coffee or beer in hand and were thrilled to see something different in their neighborhood. For many they only needed to walk down to the end of their drive for a grandstand view!!

Thankfully the full day of racing on Saturday went smoothly and it proved what a fantastic job the committed group of organizers had done.

We mustn't allow a noisy negative minority to speak for us. The normally silent supportive majority needs to find its voice to support these events which add so much to local life.

I hope you enjoy the pics. Roll on Rally 2024!
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 COMPROP GUERNSEY RALLY GALLERIES

I guess that no one ever said it was going to be easy!

But after four successful and well supported Guernsey Rallies I was hopeful, enthusiastic and eager to enjoy the spectacle of Rally racing through the tight and twisty Guernsey lanes again.

As I've spent a couple of decades on the edge of our Motorsport scene I've recognized how much work has to be put in to 'make things work' in organizing any event. This is something that only gets more challenging as each year passes and even more 'red tape' and form filling is necessary before a wheel is spun off a start line!

This leads me to ask the question... Why does anyone get out of bed in the morning thinking that all that hassle organizing an event is worth the effort?

I can't answer that.

But after the disruption and selfish, spiteful behavior shown towards the Guernsey Rally by a tiny number of residents in 2023 I fear that those people who put so much work into the organizing of the Guernsey Rally will be disheartened. Why would they want to spend so much time arranging all the correct and legal permissions to then have their work wasted?

Well, maybe I can answer that question.

I spent the few hours, yes that was all the short inconvenience lasted, out on the Rally Stages and I spoke to many of the residents who lived on the closed roads... and I was welcomed by people who were open minded and enthusiastic to enjoy something different for a change! There are many people who support and enjoy the thrill of a racing car at speed at the bottom of their driveway! They think it is fantastic to have a 'ring-side seat' (for a couple of hours!) Those people far outnumber the negative people who object... but we all know it's those people who make the most noise!

I'm not disrespectful of others who have differing and strong views on whether Motorsport has a place in the 'modern world' but as we all reside on this small rock surely tolerance, for a few hours, towards others has to be a good and necessary thing?

IF there is the will to try for another Guernsey Rally next year I hope the 'silent majority' will find their voice and make their support known.

I was able to capture some of the great action around the Stages and my pics are now online here....
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 COMPROP RALLY GALLERIES

What a very pleasant couple of hours that was.

I'm talking about a common theme that gets repeated on my Blog at least five of six times a year! Yes I know I lack imagination... but what can I say... it's true!!

I was down on Chouet beach to photograph the Autocross Club Banger racing. And the sun was out. And the action was entertaining. And it beats having a 'proper job'.

When I tick those three boxes I'm bound to be happy!

And the result of my 'work' is now online. Click the link to view the Gallery of pics:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS